Bale stack transfer device



A ril 9, 1968 Filed Dec. 13, 1965 Fig.

v. G. L OHSE I BALE STACK TRANSFER DEVICE 7 Sheets-Sheet l Vernon 6.Lohse INVENTOR.

A ril 9, 1968 v. G. LOHSE BALE STACK TRANSFER DEVICE 7 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Dec. 13, 1965 I N VEN TOR.

Ammey:

Vernon 6f Lohse BY M 5? A ril 9, 1968 v. G. LOHSE BALE STACK TRANSFERDEVICE 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 13, 1965 Vernon G L ohs e IN VE N TORA ril 9, 1968 Filed Dec. 13, 1965 V. G. LOHSE BALE STACK TRANSFER DEVICE7 Sheets-Sheet Vernon 6. Lohse INVENTOR.

April 9, 1968 v. G. LOHSE BALE STACK TRANSFER DEVICE 7 Sheets-Sheet .5

Filed Dec. 13, 1965 Vernon G Lohse INVENTOR.

BY eon Wm 5M April 9, 1968 v. G, LOHSE BALE STACK TRANSFER DEVICE FiledDec. 13, 1965 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Fig. /0

Vernon 6f Lohse I N VENTOR.

April 9, 1968 v. G. LOHSE 3,376,987

BALE STACK TRANSFER DEVICE Filed Dec. 13, 1965 7 Sheets-Sheet Vernon 6.L ohse l N VEN TOR.

United States Patent 3,376,987 BALE STACK TRANSFER DEVICE Vernon G.Lohse, RD. 2, Minot, N. Dak. 58701 Filed Dec. 13, 1965, Ser. No. 513,26516 Claims. (Cl. 214-5,05)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A bale stack transfer device including aframe having a pair of longitudinally spaced side beams which arehydraulically moved toward each other when the frame is placed over abale stack so as to grip the stack. Spring loaded front and rearstructural members lend support by the frame to the stack. The frame ispulled upon a truck bed for transfer of the stack to a distant locationwhere the frame is lowered from the bedto the ground. The frame isremoved from the stack and returned to the truck bed thereby depositingthe stack at a final destination.

The present invention generally relates to a device for raising,transporting and unloading entire stacks of hay bales or the like, andmore particularly is concerned with a device wherein an entire balestack can be raised as a unit from the ground, positioned on a truck bedfor transportation, and subsequently unloaded as a single unit withoutdisrupting the stack or the individual bales thereof.

It is a primary object of the instant invention to provide a device, forhandling a bale stack as a single unit, which is capable of raising anentire bale stack from the ground, transporting the stack andsubsequently unloading the stack without disrupting the nature thereofand without necessitating any handling of the individual bales.

Another particularly significant object of the instant invention residesin the provision of a bale stack transfer device wherein stacked balesare initially raised from the ground in a substantially verticaldirection and subsequently carried onto the transporting vehicle, ratherthan more conventional loading technique wherein the load is physicallyslid onto a pallet or the like which in turn requires a securely boundstack.

In conjunction with the above object, it is also a significant object ofthe instant invention to provide a stack transferring device wherein, asan initial step, the bales are compressed and firmly gripped, therebypreventing any disruption of the stack or the individual bales duringthe transfer operation, and at the same time, avoiding the necessity ofindependently binding or securing the stack.

Also, it is a significant object of the instant invention to provide abale stack transfer device wherein the stack lifting frame thereof iscapable of being introduced about a ground supported stack, guiding bothfrom the main vehicle and from separate steering wheels mounted thereon,and subsequently manipulated so as toeifect a compression clamping ofthe stack therein and a raising of the clamped stack vertically from theground.

Furthermore, it is a significant object of the instant invention toprovide means for stabilizing the entire stack during the transportthereof, including a retaining engagement with the four vertical sidesthereof for substantially the full height of the sides.

In addition, while the stack is to be supported on the lifting framethrough the compressive engagement with the opposite sides thereof, theinstant invention also contemplates providing, in some instances,auxiliary support bars which will underly the raised stack in a mannerso as to'act as a guard against any tendency for the central bales toslip or buckle downwardly.

Basically, in achieving the above objects, it is contemplated that adevice be provided incorporating a transporting vehicle having a truckbed and a carrying platform pivotally mounted thereon somewhat in themanner of a conventional dump truck. In addition, a lifting frame is,through a roller frame, mounted on the platform and rollable thereon andtherefrom, being controlled by a winch controlled cable. The liftingframe, subsequent to a controlled rolling thereof from the upwardlypivoted platform, is positioned with the adjustable opposed sidesthereof on the opposite sidesof a stack to be raised. The sides aresubsequently moved inwardly so as to clamp the lowermost layer of thebales therebetween with the remaining layers being retained throughselectively inwardly drawable frames positioned so as to extend forsubstantially the full height of the stack. Upon being clampinglyengaged with the stack, the lifting frame is raised vertically, throughappropriate hydraulic jacks, so as to lift the contained stack from theground, after which the lifting frame is winched upon the inclinedplatform and lowered, with the final step consisting of a lowering ofthe platform itself onto the truck bed. The unloading of the stack willbe effected by merely reversing the above steps. In this manner, thesolidity of the stack can be preserved and no sliding'or dragging of thestack is necessary such as would require substantial power and mostlikely have an adverse effect on the stack and bales.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the over-all device positionedfor engagement with a bale stack located on the ground just to the rearthereof;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the device subsequent toengagement with the stack with the loaded position of the lifting framebeing illustrated in phantom lines;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the lifting frame with portions of thesuperstructure removed for purposes of illustration;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged transverse cross-sectional view takensubstantially on a'plane passing along line 44 in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of the lifting frame supporting abale stack;

FIGURE 6 is a front elevational view of the lifting frame;

FIGURE 7 is an elevational cross section through the lifting frame takenjust to the rear of the tail gate;

FIGURE 8 is a top plan view of the tilting platform with the rollerframe mounted thereon;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged transverse cross-sectional view takensubstantially on a plane passing along line 99 of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is a partial top plan view of the lifting frame unitillustrating the tail gate construction associated therewith;

FIGURE 11 is a schematic diagram of the control system; and

FIGURES 12 and 13 are schematic side views illustrating the manner inwhich the forward end of the lifting frame is raised and lowered.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, reference numeral 20 isused to generally designate the bale stack raising and transportingdevice comprising this invention. This device includes a transportingvehicle 22 having a truck bed 24 with a tilting frame or platform 26hingedly engaged therewith as indicated at 28, the movement of theplatform 26 being controlled by suitable hydraulic jack means 30 much inthe manner of a conventional dump truck.

As will be noted from FIGURES 1 and 2, the hinged engagement 28 betweenthe truck bed 24 and the tilting platform 26 is located at a centralportion of the platform 26 with the rearwardly projecting portion of theplatform 26 being sufiicient so as to enable a positioning thereofadjacent to the ground surface upon an activation of the hydraulic jack30. Finally, a lifting unit 32 is mounted for rolling movement between afirst position overlying the tilting platform and a second positionrearward thereof, this unit 32, in its rearwardly projecting secondposition, being positionable about a stack of hay bales or the like 34for selective engagement therewith.

The tilting platform 26 includes a fiat deck 34 having a pair ofparallel upwardly directed channel-shaped roller tracks 36 fixed thereonalong the full length thereof at the outer side edges. These tracks 36receive the outer rollers 38 of the four pairs of rollers rotatablyengaged with and supporting a roller frame 40 extending transverselyacross the tilting platform 26. As will be appreciated from FIGURE 8,two pairs of rollers are provided at each end of the roller frame 40,one pair being mounted on both the forward and rear edge thereof withthe outermost rollers 38 engaged within and guided by the correspondingtrack 36 and with the inner rollers 42 freely rolling on the platformdeck 34. The rollers 38 and 42 are free rolling for movement of theroller frame 40 along the platform 26 with the forward movement of theroller frame 40 being effected through a winch wound cable 44 poweredthrough any conventional winch 46 powered by motor 45, and rearwardmovement of the roller frame 40 being effected through a controlledrelease of the winch 46 as the paltform 26 is tilted through thehydraulic jacks 30. It is contemplated that the roller frame 40 have aforwardly directed recess 48 defined therein for the accommodation ofthe Winch 46 and motor therein as the roller frame 40 approaches theforward end of the platform 26, thereby enabling a positioning of amaximum length of the lifting unit 32 on the platform 26, this liftingunit 32 having the forward end thereof supported on and movable with theroller frame 40 as shall be explained presently.

The lifting unit 32 includes an elongated U-shaped lifting frame 50which in turn consists of a pair of elongated hollow rectangular sidebeams 52, the forward ends of which are integrally engaged withlaterally or right angularly directed front beams 54, one of which has across-sectional area slightly less than the other and is telescopicallyreceived therein for a selective movement of the side rails 52 towardand away from each other While maintaining the general parallelrelationship therebetween. This movement is effected primarily through ahydraulic jack 56 having the opposite ends thereof fixed to a pair ofears 58 and 60 respectively fixed to and projecting forwardly from thetwo telescoping front frame beams 54. It is through the inward movementof the side beams 52 that the lowermost layer of the bales within thestack 34 is compressed and clampingly gripped for a subsequent raisingof the stack 34. The gripping engagement can be enhanced by theprovision of full length inwardly projecting gripping flanges 62 alongthe inner portion of each of the side beams 52, these flanges 62 tendingto bite slightly into the adjacent bales and reducing the tendency forthe bales to slip.

While the hydraulic jack 56 will function so as to both move the sidebeams 52 inwardly and into clamping engagement with the stack 34 andoutwardly so as to effect a release of the stack, it is deemed desirableto provide auxiliary means for assisting in the inwardly directedclamping movement of the rear ends of the elongated side beams 52.Accordingly, one of the beams 52 is provided, adjacent, the rear endthereof, with removable pin 64 which is received through the loopdefining end 66 of an elongated cable 68 introduced through the innerside of the corresponding beam 52 through an opening 70 providedtherein. The cable 68 extends from the pin engagement with the firstbeam 52 across the rear of the frame 50 and through the rear end portionof the opposed beam 52 where it is engaged about an internally mountedpulley 72 with the cable 68 then extending forwardly over the secondbeam 52, guided by pulley 74, and into engagement with the piston 76 ofa hydraulic jack 78 mounted on the upper surface of the beam 52. Inoperation, after the lifting frame 50 has been positioned about a balestack, the looped end 66 of the cable 68 is engaged with the pin 64 andthe hydraulic jacks 56 and 78 both activated so as to effect an inwardmovement of the beams 52 into engagement with the lowermost layer of thestack 34. When it becomes necessary to release the stack 34, the jack 78releases the tension on the cable 68 and the jack 56 operates so as tomove the beams 52 outwardly relative to each other.

The upper portion or layers of the stacks are-stabilized by means ofvertical opposed side panels 80, a front panel 82 and a tail gate 84.Each side panel includes a network of welded horizontal and verticalspaced rods 86 and 88 of a length substantially equal to the length ofthe lifting frame 50 and of a height generally equal to the contemplatedheight of the bale stack to be lifted by the lifting unit 32. Each ofthe vertical rods 88 is pivotally engaged, at the lower end thereof, tothe upper surface of the corresponding beam 52, generally by beingjournalled on a pivot pin 90 the opposite ends of which are engaged insuitable bearing members 92 permanently afiixed to the beam 52. Thefront panel 82 is also constructed of a plurality of welded verticalrods 94, pivotally engaged at the lower ends thereof to the larger ofthe front beams 54, and horizontal rods 96. Both the side panels 80 andthe front panel 82 are spring biased out wardly relative to the slackaccepting space within the frame 50 by means of elongated coil tensionsprings 98 engaged between the beams 52 and 54 outward of thecorresponding panel 80 or 82 and the panel itself at a point spacedupwardly from the lower portion thereof. This outward biasing of thepanels 80 and 82 insures an unencumbered positioning of the lifting unit32 about the stack 34 to be raised and transported with the outwardmovement of the panels 80 and 82 being limited by front and rear controlcables which in turn produce the desired inward movement of the panelsso as to effect a clamping of the received stack 34 thereby.

The rear cable means by which the side panels 80 are pivoted inwardlytoward each other and into engagement with the bale stack 34 consists ofan elongated cable 100 having a first end 102 thereof fixed to the upperrear corner of a first one of the side panels 80 with the cable 100extending therefrom over a guide pulley 104 mounted on the upper rearcorner of the second of the side panels 80 and down to a manuallyoperated cable winch 106 fixed to the side of the second of the sidepanels 80. As will be appreciated from the drawings, the secured end 102of the cable 100 as well as the guide pulley 104 are actually mountedabove the main portion of the side panels 80 and on a verticallyextended portion 108 provided so as to mount the tail gate 84 in itsoverhead stored or inoperative position as shall be describedsubsequently.

The cable control means at the front of the side panel 80 also consistsof an elongated cable 110 fixed at one end 112 to a first one of theside panels 80 and extending therefrom over a guide pulley 114 on thesecond of the frame panels 80 and down to wrapped engagement about ahand winch 116 mounted on the second of the panels 80. It will be notedthat the cable 110 also functions so as to selectively pivot the frontpanel 82 to restraining contact with the front of the bale 34. This iseffected through the provision of a forwardly projecting arm 118 on thefront panel 82 at approximately the same height as the secured end 112of the cable 110 and generally centrally between the side panels 80.This arm 118 has a guide ring v120 fixed to the forward end thereof andslidably receiving the cable 110 therethrough as it extends from thesecured end 112 to the guide pulley 114. In this manner, as the cable110 is wound on the winch 116 so as to draw the side panels 80 inwardlytoward each other, the front panel 82 will simultaneously be movedrearwardly against the biasing force of its spring 98.

The tail gate 84 is movable between a first horizontal positionoverlying the side panels 80 and supported there between on theextensions 108, and a second vertical position pivoted downward from thehorizontal position and engaged against the rear of the bale stack. Thetail gate itself is rectangular in shape and includes four longitudinalbars 122 welded to and interconnected by two transverse end bars or rods124. Associated with each of the outer longitudinal bars 122, anddefining aclosed track 126 therewith, is a second bar 128 parallelingthe bar 122 in spaced relation thereto for a little more than one-halfof the length thereof starting from the uppermost end bar 124. Thealigned tracks 126 receive an elongated pivot rail 130 slidablytherethrough with the relationship between the rail 130 and the track126 being such so as to enable the gate 84 to be both slidlongitudinally on the rail and pivoted relative thereto. A second rail132, spaced forwardly of and paralleling the rail 130 is also provided,the gate, in its horizontal or retracted position resting upon the rail132. Both rails 130 and 132 are telescopic in nature and have theopposite ends thereof slidably received within a pair of elongatedtracks 134, defined by upper and lower bars, which constitute the upperportion of the extension 108. The rails 130 and 132 have thecorresponding ends thereof interconnected by flat plates 1 36 which inturn retain these rails in engagement with the corresponding tracks 134throughout the opening and closing pivotal movement of the side panels80, the telescopic nature of the rails 130 and 132 enabling anaccommodation of this movement of the side panels 80.

The combined rails 130 and 132 are normally biased forwardly on thetracks 134 by a pair of elongated coil tension springs 138 engagedbetween the forward end of the portions 108 and the connecting plates136. By the same token, the tail gate 84 is biased forwardly and intoits horizontal position by an elongated coiled tension spring 140engaged between the center of the rail 130 and the lower end bar 124 ofthe gate 84. In this position, it will be appreciated that the tail gate84 is supporated in a horizontal position on the rails 130 and 132 andis completely withdrawn from the rear of the lifting unit 32 so as tonot interfere with the reception of the unit 32 about the bale stack 34.

After the stack has been received within the lifting frame- 50, thelower end 124 of the gate 84 is grasped, normally through an elongatedcord 142, and pulled downwardly. The gate 84 will both pivot and slideon the rail 130 until the forward or upper ends of the tracks 126contacts the rail 130. At this point, the lower end of the gate 84 ispushed forwardly toward the stack, this normally being at approximatelythe second layer of bales, this in turn resulting in the upper portionof the gate 84 contacting the upper layers of the stack 43 and-resulting in a forward movement of the interconnected rails 130 and 132against the force of the biasing springs 138. Upon achieving a verticalpositioning of the gate 84, generally coplanar with the rear ends of theside panels 80, a pair of locking rods 144, slidably mounted on thelower end of the gate 84, attention being particularly directed toFIGURE 7, are slid laterally outward for locking reception withinsuitable keepers 146 mounted on the adjoining side panels 80. In thismanner, the tail gate 84 is quickly and simply locked in stack retainingposition with the biasing force of the upper springs 138 providing aconstant pressure on the rear end of the stack 34 so as to resist anytendency for either the stack or the individual bales to shift. Therelease of the tail gate 84 simply involves a retracting of the lockingrods 144 and a guiding of the gate 84 as it is moved upwardly andinwardly through the action of the biasing springs 138 and to itshorizontal position overlying the rail 132 which, in conjunction withthe rail 130 engaged to the track 126, safely positions the tail gate 84out of the way of any loading or unloading procedure.

The rear end of the U-shaped lifting frame 50, and thereby the liftingunit 32 itself, is supported by a pair of wheels 148, one associatedwith the rear end of each of the side rails 52 by a wheel mount 150which is in turn pivotally engaged with the rear end of thecorresponding beam 52 by means of a vertical pivot pin 152. Each mount150 is fixed to the corresponding pin 152 which in turn is rotatablycontrolled by means of a small hydraulic jack 154 engaged between thecorresponding beam 52 and the outer end of an arcuate control arm 156.It is through these rotatably mounted power controlled wheels 184 that aproper aligning of the lifting unit 32 can be achieved in a simple andefiicient manner without requiring any'extensive or precisionmaneuvering of the entire device 20 during the backing of positioning ofthe device 24 and engaging of the lifting frame 50 about a bale stack34.

The forward end of the lifting frame 50, thereby the entire lifting unit32, is supported on the roller frame 40 and is vertically adjustablerelative thereto, as schematically illustrated in FIGURES 12 and 13, soas to enable a movement of the frame 50 between a horizontal loading orunloading position and an inclined position for winching onto or off ofthe tilting platform 26. Each of the front frame beams 54 has, by meansof a pair of spaced brackets 158, an elongated shaft mounted parallelwith and spaced forward of the front face thereof. Each of the shafts160 rotatably mounts an elongated pipe 162 which is rotatably moved andcontrolled by an associated hydraulic jack 164 engaged between theadjoining side rail 52 and the outer end of an elongated right angularlybent control arm 166 fixed to and extending from the pipe 162. Also,fixed to each of the pipes 162 and responsive to the rotation thereof isa forwardly projecting pressure arm 168 which in turn has the forwardend thereof fixed to a shaft 170 rotatably and slidably supported withinelongated slots 172 defined within a pair of opposed brackets 174 fixedto the roller frame 40'. The slotted brackets 174 as will be appreciatedfrom FIGURES 12 and 13, enable the vertical movement of the forward endof the lifting frame 50 necessary so as to both position the liftingframe 50 horizontally and quite close to the ground rearward of thetilting platform 26, and also so as to enable a raising of the forwardend of the lifting frame 50 so as to clear the rear end of the tiltingplatform 26 andfacilitate a winching of the lifting frame onto thetilting platform. It will of course be recognized that all movements ofthe lifting frame 50 are to be rolling movements with the forward end ofthe frame 50 being supported on the roller frame 40 which in turn rollson the rollers 38 and 42, and with the rear end of the lifting frame 50being supported upon the steering wheels 148.

While not normally needed, inasmuch as most hay bales are packedsufficiently solid so as to enable an entire stack 34 to be held firmlyby the lifting frame 50, auxiliary tubular support bars 176 can beprovided. These support bars 176 will underlie the lifting frame 50 andextend transversely thereacross at spaced points along the length of theframe 50 with these bars merely functioning as a safety measure so as toprevent any buckling downward of the center bales in the stack such asmight arise when dealing with loosely packed bales. Each of the ends ofeach of the tubular bars 176 is received through a ring 178 which is inturn suspended by a chain 180 suspended from a hook 182 fixed to theside beam 52. In actual use,

the bale 34 is gripped by the frame 50 and raised from the ground, afterwhich the tubular bars 176 are slid under the stack 34 and into theopposed rings 178, the leading end 184 of each of the bars 176 beingtapered if desired so as to facilitate its introduction through thesupport rings 178, and also so as to facilitate its passage beneath thestack 34.

With specific reference to FIGURE 11, it will be noted that the variousmovement controlling jacks have been schematically illustrated as beingcontrolled from a central control box 186, which may be mounted directlyon the lifting frame 50. The hydraulic fluid will of course be providedfrom any suitable reservoir 188 by means of a conventional pump 190driven from the transporting vehicle 22 in any suitable manner.

In use, the device 20, with the tilting platform 26 and lifting unit 32positioned horizontally thereon as illustrated in phantom lines inFIGURE 2, is positioned in alignment with and forward of a stack 34 tobe lifted and transported. The tilting platform 26 is tilted after whichthe forward end of the lifting unit 32 is elevated with the side beams52 of the lifting frame 58 being raised from the platform channel tracks36 upon which they normally rest. Next, the lifting unit 32 is rolledrearwardly off of the tilting platform 26 through a controlledlengthening of the winch held cable 44. After the roller frame 40reaches the rear end of the tilting platform 26, the rearward movementof the roller frame 40 being limited by suitable stops if so desired,the forward end of the lifting frame 50 is lowered so as to position theframe horizontally and the frame is guided, with the assistance of therear steering wheels 148, about the stack 34 to be raised. It will beappreciated, that if so desired, the frame 50 can be guided about thestacks 34 prior to a lowering of the forward end thereof. Once the frame50 has been positioned about the stack, the side beams 52 are movedinwardly toward each other into clamping engagement with the lowermoststack layer with the side and front panels subsequently being broughtinto clamping engagement with the remainder of the stack, after whichthe tail gate is pivoted downwardly into pressure applying positionadjacent the rear end of the stack 34. Once the stack has been properlyclamped by the lifting unit 32, it is raised directly up from theground, through a lifting of the forward end of the lifting frame 50,after which, if deemed necessary, the safety or support bars 176 can beapplied. With the forward end of the lifting unit 32 raised, the liftingunit 32 is winched onto the inclined tilting platform 26. After thelifting unit 32 is completely winched onto the platform 26, the liftingunit 32 is lowered so as to rest the side beams 52 on the channel-shapedtracks 36, after which the tilting frame 26 is lowered into position. Inthis manner, the entire stack is mounted on the truck bed as a singleunit without there being any necessity of handling the individual bales,tying or binding up the stack prior to the lifting thereof, or slidingthe stack along the ground such as would tend to disrupt the balestherein. Incidentally, the fact that the stack is lifted vertically offthe ground, rather than being slid therealong is of particularsignificance in that there is a substantial adherence between the haybales and the ground after being stacked for any length of time, thisarising mainly from the accumulation of moisture between the hay bales.Therefore, the amount of force required to slide the stack would besubstantially greater than that actually necessary to raise the stackvertically from the ground. Once the stack has been clamped and raised,the roller and wheel supports for the lifting frame 50 enable a rapidand relatively simple movement of the stack onto the truck bed. Theunloading of the stack merely involves a reversal of the above procedurewith the stack being deposited on the ground in substantially the samecondition as it was when originally lifted and with the same ease asinvolved in the lifting.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling with the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A bale stack transfer device comprising a movable bed, a tiltingplatform mounted on said bed and movable between a first positionoverlying said bed and a second position tilted rearwardly anddownwardly relative to said bed, and a lifting frame, roller meanssupporting the forward end of said frame on said platform for movementtherealong, wheel means supporting the rear end of said frame formovement along the ground, said lifting frame being movable between afirst position overlying said platform and a second position extendingrearwardly therefrom, said lifting frame including laterally spacedlongitudinally disposed gripping members, means for selectively movingsaid members toward each other for gripping engagement with a bale stackpositioned therebetween, means for elevating said lifting frame so as toeffect a vertical raising of a gripped stack, and means for moving saidlifting frame from its second position to its first position overlyingsaid platform.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said gripping members comprise a pairof elongated side beams, said means for elevating said frame beingengaged between the forward ends of said beams and said roller means foreffecting a vertical adjustment therebetween and a pivotal raising ofthe frame about the rear end supporting wheel means.

3. The device of claim 2 including a vertical side panel pivotallymounted on and projecting upward from each beam, and means engagedbetween the panels for selectively pivoting the panels toward each otherand into clamping engagement with a balestack positioned herebetween andgripped by said side beams.

4. The device of claim 3 including a vertical front panel, meanspivotally mounting said front panel between the forward ends of saidbeams, and means engaged with said front panel for selectively pivotingsaid front panel rearwardly against a bale stack positioned between theside beams.

5. The device of claim 4 including a tail gate, means mounting said tailgate for movement between a horizontal first position supported by andbetween the upper portions of the side panels and a vertical secondposition generally between the rear ends of said side panels, and meansfor resiliently urging said tail gate forwardly between said sidepanels.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein said wheel means comprises a steerablewheel mounted on the rear end of each beam, and means associated witheach wheel for effecting the steering thereof.

7. The device of claim 2 including a front beam fixed to the forward endof each side beam and projecting laterally therefrom toward the otherside beam, said front beams being slidably engaged with each other so asto allow for a movement of the side beams toward and away from eachother, said means for elevating said frame comprising a pair ofrotatably mounted members, one mounted on and paralleling each frontbeam, each rotatably mounted member having a rearwardly directed armfixed thereto and overlying the forward portion of one of the sidebeams, and a forwardly directed arm fixed thereto and having the forwardend thereof pivoted to the roller means, and extensible means engagedbetween each side beam and the corresponding rearwardly directed arm foreffecting a rotation of the rotatably mounted member and a downwardbiasing of the forwardly directed arm with a corresponding raising ofthe forward end of the lifting frame.

8. The device of claim 5 wherein the means mounting said tail gatecomprises a first rail extending transversely across the upper edges ofthe side panels adjacent the rear thereof, said tail gate includingtrack means along a substantial portion of its length commencing withthe upper or forward end thereof, said track means being slidably andpivotally received on said first rail, a second rail extendingtransversely across the upper edges of the side panels forward of thefirst rail, the forward portion of said tail gate, in its horizontalposition, overlying and being supported on said second rail, meansengaged between said first rail and the lower or rear end of said tailgate resiliently biasing said rear end of the tail gate toward saidfirst rail.

9. The device of claim 8 including means rigidly interconnecting saidfirst and second rails and means slidably mounting said rails forforward and rearward movement on said side panels, said means forresiliently urging said tail gate forwardly including spring meansengaged between the interconnected rails and the side panels forward ofthe second rail.

10. The device of claim 2 including a plurality of support barspositionable transversely across said frame beneath said side beams,each support bar having the opposite ends thereof received within asupport ring fixed to and depending below the corresponding side beam.

11. A bale stack transfer device including a frame, said frame includinga pair of longitudinally extending laterally spaced side beams, meansinterconnecting said beams for selectively moving said beams toward eachother and into gripping engagement with a bale stack positionedtherebetween, roller means supporting the forward ends of said beams,.wheel means supporting the rear ends of said beams, and means engagedbetween the forward ends of said beams and the roller means for varyingthe vertical height therebetween so as to pivot the frame upwardly aboutsaid wheel means.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein said means for selectively moving saidmembers toward each other include at least one hydraulic jack.

13. The device of claim 1 wherein said means for elevating said liftingframe include a plurality of hydraulic jacks.

14. The device of claim 6 wherein said means associated with each wheelfor effecting the steering thereof include a plurality of hydraulicjacks.

15. A material transfer device comprising a bed, a movable platformmounted on said bed and movable between a first position overlying saidbed and a second position rearwardly and downwardly located relative tosaid bed, a transfer frame, means for supporting said frame on saidplatform for movement therealong, means supporting said frame formovement along the ground, said frame being movable between a firstposition overlying said platform and a second position extendingrearwardly therefrom, said frame including laterally disposed grippingmembers, means for selectively moving said members toward each other forgripping engagement with a mass of material positioned therebetween,means for positioning said frame so as to effect a displacement of saidgripped material onto said platform and means for moving said frame fromits second position to its first position overlying said platform.

16. A material transfer device including a frame characterized by a pairof longitudinally extending laterally spaced side beams, means forsupporting the forward end of said frame, means for supporting therearward end of said frame, means interconnecting said beams forselectively moving said beams toward each other into gripping engagementwith a mass of material positioned therebetween, means for elevatingsaid frame comprising a pair of rotatably mounted members, one of eachsaid rotatably mounted members mounted on and paralleling a front beam,each rotatably mounted member having a rearwardly directed arm fixedthereto and overlying the forward portion of one of the side beams, anda forwardly directed arm fixed thereto and having the forward endthereof pivoted to said forward supporting means, an extensible meansengaged between each side beam and corresponding rearwardly directed armfor effecting a rotation of the rotatably mounted member and a downwardbiasing of the forwardly directed arm with a corresponding raising ofthe forward end of the frame.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 726,420 4/1903 Frazier 2149302,502,309 3/1950 Byrd 28043.l1 X 3,019,926 2/1962 Christenson 2143923,071,264 1/1963 Totaro et al. 214515 X 3,145,864 8/1964 Arnold 214-396GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner. ALBERT J. MAKAY, Examiner.

